Japan secures 1,200 US missiles amid rising tensions with China
Japan has requested to purchase over a thousand AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles from the American government, and their request has been approved. Here we present what exactly the Land of the Rising Sun will receive.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), part of the Pentagon, announced the approval for a potential sale to Japan valued at a maximum of $3.64 billion. The sale includes 1,200 AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles in the AIM-120C-8 and AIM-120D-3 versions, 20 AIM-120D-3 guiding sections, and four AIM-120C-8 guiding sections.
Additionally, the package includes training in handling, spare parts, AIM-120 Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM), and Common Munitions Built-in Test (CMBRE) testing equipment.
It is worth noting that the final value of the contract, as is usually the case with DSCA approvals, will likely be lower. The contractor will be RTX Corporation (formerly Raytheon) based in Tucson. This sale represents a significant strengthening of the primary US ally in the region in case of a confrontation with China.
AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles — the long arm of the US Air Force and most NATO countries
AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles are guided medium-range air-to-air missiles that have become the standard among NATO armed forces. They were introduced into service in the US Air Force in 1991, initially in the AIM-120A version. Currently, the dominant models are the AIM-120C-6 and AIM-120C-7, with production in the AIM-120C-8 and AIM-120D-3 versions having begun recently.
Production of the AIM-120C-7 has been ongoing since 1998, and these missiles reach a range of about 62 miles. However, in the era of missiles with an estimated range of nearly 124 miles, such as the MBDA Meteor or its Chinese copy, the PL-15, this range is no longer sufficient. To address this, the AIM-120D-3 variant was developed, boasting an estimated range of about 99 miles. Meanwhile, the AIM-120C-8 are refurbished AIM-120C-7 missiles with improved components.
All AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles are of the "fire-and-forget" type, meaning they are equipped with an advanced guidance system based on an active radar seeker. As a result, the missiles use their radar wave emitter, supported by GPS and INS navigation, eliminating the need for the pilot to continuously track the target until impact.
In the AIM-120D-3 version, an additional two-way data link was added, enabling communication between the missile and aircraft after launch, such as for updating the target's position. This feature is crucial because the radar in the missile's nose has a limited range, perhaps 6 to 18 miles, depending on the radar cross-section of the target.
This represents a significant advancement compared to earlier systems with semi-active radar homing, such as the AIM-7 Sparrow, where the pilot had to keep the target in sight using the onboard radar until impact.
It's worth noting that beyond aviation, AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles can also be used in ground-based NASAMS air defense systems, which effectively protect strategic sites in Ukraine from drones and cruise missiles. However, when launched from the ground, their range is significantly reduced, reaching less than 25 miles due to higher air resistance at lower altitudes compared to altitudes of 49,000-65,000 feet.
